The RAPTURE
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Page updated July 2007










 

Many believe in a RAPTURE before the Tribulation.
I DO NOT believe in a pre-tribulation rapture.
People are SO OFFENDED when I say we will NOT escape persecution!
The Bible tells us many will be offended.

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, 
and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
At that time many will fall away (be offended)
and will betray one another and hate one another.
Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
Matthew 24:9-11


Teachings by Eileen Smith who believes in pre-trib rapture

This chapter begins a new vision, the second for John.

The message to the individual churches is over. He has told them
who he is, their failures, and warned and counseled them to 
correct their failures. He has also given them the promises of
heaven if they will only overcome. 

Now it is time for the churches to see the future events that
are coming upon the earth.  It is time for the churches now to
know  that Jesus is coming back to earth like he said he would.
This new vision given John begins the future events.

There is a lot of controversy over the meaning of these chapters
as well as the order of events. We must recognize that the
symbols represent realities and not vague generalities.
The Antichrist in these coming chapters is called a beast,
but the symbol represents a real man. The visions in these
chapters focus on the coming judgments that will bring an end to
the present age and to the present world system. The first thing
we are to see is that God and our Lord Jesus Christ are the ones
who are in control.

In this vision John is transported into heaven and the very first
thing he see's is the throne of God.


Verse 1 - RAPTURE

A Rapturist did this teaching. 
This is where they say the Church leaves.
I dont agree

"After This" indicates there was a passage of time, not just one
continuous vision. There is just to much in all of these
chapters for it to have been one continuous vision.
This may have gone on for days. Many Bible expositors believe
that at this point in Revelation, Christ has already taken the
faithful overcomers of His churches out of the world.
According to this, the catching away of the true church or the
rapture precedes the tribulation period.
There are 3 reason why this is believed.

1.  Beginning with 4:1 the term church or churches disappears
until chapter 22:16.

2.  The bride of Christ (the church) appears in chapter 19
already with Christ in heaven before he returns to earth to
judge the wicked and to reign in the millennial kingdom.

3.  The promise given to the Philadelphia church to keep it
from the hour of worldwide trial pertains to all believers
who stand true to Christ before the tribulation.

Going back to verse 1 John see's a door that stands open in
heaven. The same voice he heard in the previous vision speaks
to him again "as it were of a trumpet telling him to come up
hither or here speaking of heaven. He is about to be shown
things which must be hereafter, things that will take place
in fulfillment of God's plan.

This study of Revelation is probably going to be quite a bit
different than any study you have ever had before

Let's look at this open door that he speaks about. This door is
opened in heaven. The future events were not of John's
imagination. They were of God. This means that we can trust the
events written down in Revelation



Painting permission Revelation Illustrated.com


There are 3 doors mentions in Revelation

1. There is the open door for evangelism and missions

This door is open to the churches for bearing witness to
the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:8 and Acts 1:8

2.  There is the door of the human heart. Every person has a
door that has to be opened before Christ will enter,
the door of his heart.  Revelation 3:20

3.  There is the door of revelation. After a person has opened
the door of his heart to Christ, Christ reveals the glorious
things of Himself. Then he reveals some of the events that are
to take place as history unfolds, some of the events that
surround the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end time.

Verses 2 - 3
Immediately John is in the Spirit caught up to the throne in
heaven. He see's the most astounding sight. He see's God sitting
on the throne of God. Remember this is a vision. The appearance
of the One on the throne is so glorious and majestic that He is
indescribable.



Painting Revelation Illustrated

JEWELS DESCRIBE GOD

Why do you think jewels were used to describe God?

They were considered the most brilliant and most valued,
precious, and desired gems on earth. So God is seen and
described as the most brilliant and valued, precious, and
desired being; a being of indescribable glory and splendor.
The countenance of God shone like a jasper stone, representing
the penetrating perfection and purity of God. The Jasper is said
to be crystal clear, more like the diamond,
not like opaque jasper of today.

The sardine stone, was a fiery red stone and it represents
the justice and the redemption of God.

The rainbow that surrounded the throne looked like emerald
green, representing the mercy of God and the new covenant of
grace given to man by God.

Verse 4
We have 24 elders sitting around the throne of God. They are
seated upon thrones that surround God's throne. They are near
God, they are resting in God, and have been given a permanent
place in His presence forever and ever, clothed in white.

Meaning they are clothed in the purity and holiness of God and
of Christ. They have crowns of gold on their heads. This means
that they hold positions of authority. They rule and reign for
God, serving Him by managing some vast domain of the universe.

Who are these elders?  Elder was used by the Early church as a 
synonym for Pastor of a church. Their number 24 most likely
stands for the total church of God in the old and new covenants
with the 12 patriarchs and the twelve apostles, who have their
names on the gates and foundations of the New Jerusalem. If this
is true then the 24 elders symbolize or represent the entire
redeemed church of God throughout the ages. They are real people
because they talk to John in Chapter 7:13

Verses  5 - 6
There are 3 things in these 2 verses that show how awesome the
presence of God is.

1.  His voice is so commanding that it sounds like a combination
of many voices and of lightnings and thunderings.
The lightnings, thunderings, and voices are also past
expressions of God speaking, as at Sinai & rendering judgment.

2.  The seven lamps of burning fire are the "seven spirits of
God, representing the presence of the Holy Spirit in all his
fulness and completeness. The Holy Spirit is like a burning fire
filled with judgment against sin and with the purity of God.
He reproves the guilty and calls them to account.

3.  There is a sea of glass stretching out before the throne.
It's beauty is so great, sparking with reflected glory, that it
is beyond human words to describe. A sea in the scriptures
usually refers to people.

The elders of Israel saw a similar light! Exodus 24:10.

Ezekiel saw a similar light! Ezekiel  1:22-26

This sea of glass symbolizes three things.

1. It shows the value and the preciousness of God's presence.

2. It shows us how clearly God is able to see everything that
is out before his throne. It stands for His omniscience and
penetrating vision of all things. Nothing is hid from Him.

3. It shows the spectacular purity of God. 

Verses  6 - 9
Let's go back to the middle of Verse 6. There are four living
creatures who surround the throne of God. These angelic beings
are posted in the middle of the throne.
Look at their description. 

1. They are always found near the throne.
Revelation  4:6 - 6:6 - 14:3

2. They have six wings and are full of eyes.
Revelation 4:6 - 8

They are full of eyes on the front and on the back,
which represent intelligence, alertness, understanding and
awareness of what is going on in all directions. They are
different from what the Old Testament called Cherubs.
Cherubs look alike.  These living beings or beasts are each
one different and distinct.




Verses 7 thru 11

Verse  7
It seems that the creatures that John saw are representing all
God's creation.  The first being was like a lion as the king of
the wild animals, symbolizing supremacy. The second being was
like an ox (Calf) as the chief domesticated animal in those
days, symbolizing strength.

The Third being was like a man created in the image of God,
symbolizing intelligence.  And the fourth being was like an
eagle, the king of birds, symbolizing swiftness. Taken together,
they indicate that all nature joins in praising God.
They indicate also, by honoring the One on the throne,
that God is sovereign over all His creation.

In the early history of the Church it became popular also to
connect these living beings with Christ and the four gospels.
Augustine, about A.D. 400, for example, saw Jesus in Matthew as
the lion of Judah, In Mark as the man, in Luke as the ox-calf
being sacrificed for all people everywhere, and in John as the
eagle reaching the highest heights of spiritual revelation.

Verse  8
Each of the four living beings has six wings which speaks of
humility and quickness. They were so full of the reflected glory
of God that they seemed to be on fire. 

3.  Their function has do with the holiness and wrath of God.
Revelation  6:1 - 7, 15:7
They also perform His will and carry out his judgments. 
This shows that they are real beings, rational beings, not just
symbols. It is believed that they are also leaders. They speak
in unison as they praise God. 

4.  They declare the holiness of God day and night & never cease
to declare his holiness. (Rev. 4:8)  They do not rest but cry
out day and night, Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God Almighty.
Instead of speaking of the earth being full of His glory,
they speak about the Eternal One, who always,
"was, and is, and is to come."

The three "Holies" emphasizes God's supreme holiness.
The basic idea of holiness is a separation from sin and a 
separation to holiness. As the Almighty One He has all power. 
He is omnipotent. He is not only dedicated to carrying out His
plans but also has the power to do it. No king, no dictator,
no demon or devil, can with stand him.

Atheists, communists, & rebels may turn against him they will
pass away but God will always remain. 
He is eternal, he cannot be destroyed. 

Let me insert a thought here. This is an indictment against man!
How little we praise and worship God-truly praise & worship Him.
Imagine! There are four beings who have been created to worship
God day and night, never to cease from worshiping him and we
have a hard time spending 10 minutes worshiping God.

Verses 9-11
Every time these living beings break out in worship to God,
the 24 elders all descend from their thrones, and fall down
before Him and worship Him, casting their crowns before Him as
they do. This is their way of showing Him their reverence,
dependence, and their subjection. Like the four living beings
they worship God as "Him that liveth for ever and ever."

If people find it hard here on earth to worship and praise God,
I wonder how they are going to worship him in heaven.
This should give each one of us something to think about.

In their praise the 24 elders recognize God as their Lord.
They give their praise directly to God, recognizing Him as
their creator, and the Giver of all good things.
God is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power.
Psalms 95:6 - Psalms 96:9 - John 4:24

We can recognize two truths here

1.  Man cannot create something out of nothing. But God did at
the beginning of time.  We can only discover, use,
and rearrange what has been given us by God.

2.  All these things we use and enjoy were created not just
for our benefit but for God's. We honor Him only as we use
them for His glory. 

Verse  11
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power,
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created. 

I do not see a pre Tribulation rapture.  It is unwise to FOCUS
attention on escape instead of reaching the lost.